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Pete one thing to consider before you jump into a lightweight flywheel is your rear end gear. A 15lb or less wheel and a SB should have at least a 3:70 gear, with a 4:11 being optimal. You might want to consider the Ram #1511 flywheel. It's a 153 tooth wheel and weighs 26lbs. Summit sells it for $235. This would add to your rev performance over a stock flywheel, but still have enough weight(inertia) to make it very drivable on the street.
Pete one thing to consider before you jump into a lightweight flywheel is your rear end gear. A 15lb or less wheel and a SB should have at least a 3:70 gear, with a 4:11 being optimal. You might want to consider the Ram #1511 flywheel. It's a 153 tooth wheel and weighs 26lbs. Summit sells it for $235. This would add to your rev performance over a stock flywheel, but still have enough weight(inertia) to make it very drivable on the street.
You can't just go by rear end ratio. An M20 with 3.36's is exactly the same combined starting ratio as an M21 with 3.90's.(8.6)
M21 and 3.70's give you 8.1 which is only slightly better than an M20 with 3.08's (7.9)!
Just another reason to love the M20 for real world driving!
No way. See pix below. Most after-market SFI 168 wheels will be drilled for most 10 1/2" (actually 10.4" ) and 11" plates, including: Diaphragm, Borg&Beck and Long style plates.
I had a hays 40 lb. 168 tooth wheel that was drilled for 10 1/2 and 11 inch clutch. My Hays 168 tooth 400 flywheel is only drilled for the 10 1/2 inch. By the way how have you been, done much racing.
In 1963, the smaller, 153 teeth flywheel was introduced and it ONLY accepted a 10.5 clutch.
Tom Parsons
If you are talking Corvette only, this is true. If you are talking Chevrolet, the 153 tooth flywheel came out in '62. The flywheel was drilled for a 10" clutch at least through 1965. 1962 was also the start of the small, front bearing retainer as was later used on the '63 four speeds.
I had a hays 40 lb. 168 tooth wheel that was drilled for 10 1/2 and 11 inch clutch. My Hays 168 tooth 400 flywheel is only drilled for the 10 1/2 inch. By the way how have you been, done much racing.
We have not had any races this year because there has been some serious medical issues within our ranks. But all are on the mend and we will do a rental in Oct.
As for the subject of clutches and flywheels, I have given up on 2750 and 3200lb street/strip clutches having gone through 4 of them in the last 3 years. Now I will be using a total drag race set up. The flywheel is drilled for many types of 10.5 ans 11" clutches.
A couple weeks ago I was ready to lock in a purchase of a lightweight flywheel. On the various manufacterer's web sites, they all say the lightweight flywheels are for the small/lightweight cars but heavier and/or big horse engines should be using the heavier wheels.
I just don't know yet, think I'll sleep on it yet for a while.
If you are talking Corvette only, this is true. If you are talking Chevrolet, the 153 tooth flywheel came out in '62. The flywheel was drilled for a 10" clutch at least through 1965. 1962 was also the start of the small, front bearing retainer as was later used on the '63 four speeds.
I'm not aware of any 62 Chevy V8 engines that got the 153 teeth flywheel nor the small front bearing retainer.
To the best of my knowledge, both of those WERE INTRODUCED in 62, BUT on the 63 model cars that came out in Sept 62.
A couple weeks ago I was ready to lock in a purchase of a lightweight flywheel. On the various manufacterer's web sites, they all say the lightweight flywheels are for the small/lightweight cars but heavier and/or big horse engines should be using the heavier wheels.
I just don't know yet, think I'll sleep on it yet for a while.
Bud.
In another thread, you wanted to install a Hurst shifter to improve your drag strip performance. A light flywheel will give you the opposite results on a drag strip. The stickier tires you use, the worse your results.
A light flywheel is great, once you get the car in gear and moving. They are okay for a street driver too.
I'm not aware of any 62 Chevy V8 engines that got the 153 teeth flywheel nor the small front bearing retainer.
To the best of my knowledge, both of those WERE INTRODUCED in 62, BUT on the 63 model cars that came out in Sept 62.
Tom Parsons
The 153 tooth flywheel was introduced on the 1962 year model 4 and 6 cylinders engines that were installed in Chevy II's. The same flywheel that was used on 1963/later Corvette V-8 engines.
As for the V-8 part, there was a 1962 283/327 block released as OTC that was drilled for a block mounted starter. This block was part of a service package to install a V-8 engine in the Chevy II in 1962.
To answer a question you posed several years ago about why Chevrolet went to the small front bearing retainer on 1963 transmissions, the answer was cost/commonality of parts & machining.
The 1962 Chevy II also used an aluminum bellhousing that later became common with the V-8 engines. At it's release in 1962, it was decided to use a smaller front bearing in the transmission due to the expected lower horsepower engines. As a cost save, this same bellhousing and small front bearig was released for ALL the 1963 4,6 and 8 cylinder engines (except 409).
I guess it didn't work out as we all know as it was a one year only deal on the four speeds and the rest of the Chevrolet line, including Chevy II incorporated the larger bearing in 1964.
The 153 tooth flywheels, as used in the 283 Chevy II V-8 cars up through at least 1965 were ten inch clutches. No drilling to accomadate 10.5 clutches on these flywheels.
Mike,
Yep, I was aware of the small flywheel in 62 for the ChevyIIs, but at that time, none of the production cars with V8s got a small flywheel, unitl the 63 models. You had me worried there that I'd missed something along the line.
Needs Advice
I ordered a 153 Tooth Flywheel for my 70 Vert 350 SBC It originally came
With a 168 tooth flywheel but got a good deal on a 153 tooth with a new clutch kit everything bolted up fine However after placing my new starter the pinion gear is fine going to the flywheel however it's about 1/2 inch gap "Under" the teeth of the 153 Tooth Flywheel I have tried 6 153 tooth Starters to no avail. I understand that I needed to go to a 153 tooth starter but I fear that all is lost and have to remove the 153 Tooth Flywheel and replace it with a 168 tooth 14 inch flywheel Unless someone can suggest a starter
I hate to go thru all this work again it has the bigger Bell Housing like the 1 on the right in the photo
Thanks
Bill
twOTE=DZAUTO;1575260851]There is no such thing as a 10.5 or 11in flywheel.
Beginning with the very first Chevy V8 in 1955, there have only been two sizes of flywheels/flexplates:
1. Small, 12 3/4in diameter (frequently referred to as 13in) with 153 teeth.
2. Large, 14in diameter with 168 teeth.
The early flywheels were ONLY the large, 168 teeth version and MOST of them only had a bolt pattern for a 10in clutch (later replacement clutches are now about 10.5in). Some of the early 168 teeth flywheels, such as those for trucks had a bolt pattern for the 11in clutch.
In 1963, the smaller, 153 teeth flywheel was introduced and it ONLY accepted a 10.5 clutch.
The later, 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for the 11in clutch.
SOME replacement 168 teeth flywheels had a dual bolt pattern for either the 10.5 or 11in clutch.
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 Chevy flywheels for engines with a 2-piece rear main seal have the same bolt pattern for the crankshaft. And ALL V8 flywheels, EXCEPT those for the SB400 and 454 BB, are neutral balance. The SB400 and 454 use the same size 168 teeth flywheels and accept the same 11in clutch, but they have an additional weight on the front side of the flywheel for engine balancing purposes. These 400/454 flywheels are commonly referred to as EXternal balance flywheels.
Here is a comparrison of the 168 teeth neutral and external balance flywheels.
Here is a comparrison of the 153 teeth and a 168 teeth flywheels.
Now, this throws one more fly into the ointment. Depending on which flywheel you choose, you must also have the correct corrosponding size bell housing.
Here is a comparrison of the small and large bell housings.
And then there is still one more issue, the starter. The small flywheel/bell housing requires a starter with the straight across bolt pattern. The large flywheel/bell housing requires a starter with a CAST IRON nose and a staggered bolt pattern. The starter with an alum nose and staggered bolt pattern WILL NOT FIT into the starter bulge of the big bell housing.
Hope this helps.
Tom Parsons[/QUOTE]
Last edited by BuffaloBILL; 12-04-2016 at 03:52 PM.
Two more items to complete the very thorough review from DZ.
If you're using the 153 tooth flywheel/bellhousing/starter on a big block (I am) you will have to use a '65 396 or L-88 starter brace.
The 153 tooth neutral balance flywheels come in two varieities. One is a 37 pounder with full metal thickness across the entire back face. It's the standard C2 small block flywheel. The other is a 16 pound nodular iron unit that has thin metal except for the friction face area. You used to be able to find those by the dozens in the used parts bins at the local speed shop, but not any more. I'm trying to find one for my 427. Makes 'em rev like a 302. God help me I don't feel like pulling the trans out after the car comes back from the body shop though.
I ran an 15# aluminum flywheel on a 302 in a 3000# Vega drag car. It rev'd very quick, but the launch was affected. I ended up going to a lower gear in the differential to get off of the line better. Also thinking it may be harder on the crankshaft as the heavier flywheel centrifugal force absorbs more of the shock from the clutch dump.
Just a thought.
This thread is very old but I'll play along. I've never been a fan of heavy flywheels unless it is a bone stock type engine of which I don't run. The 496 in the 66 I use a 15 lbs Ram and in my Nova I use a 9 lb Rob Youngblood flywheel.
[QUOTE=BuffaloBILL;1593598291]Needs Advice
I ordered a 153 Tooth Flywheel for my 70 Vert 350 SBC It originally came
With a 168 tooth flywheel but got a good deal on a 153 tooth with a new clutch kit everything bolted up fine However after placing my new starter the pinion gear is fine going to the flywheel however it's about 1/2 inch gap "Under" the teeth of the 153 Tooth Flywheel I have tried 6 153 tooth Starters to no avail. I understand that I needed to go to a 153 tooth starter but I fear that all is lost and have to remove the 153 Tooth Flywheel and replace it with a 168 tooth 14 inch flywheel Unless someone can suggest a starter
I hate to go thru all this work again it has the bigger Bell Housing like the 1 on the right in the photo
Thanks
Bill[QUOTE]
Looks like your post got lost in the shuffle. I think starting a new post would get more replies.
09-09-2010, 01:55 PM
